Today, the Bowser Administration and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) announced that the OSSE Division of Student Transportation (OSSE DOT) has ordered 25 electric school buses that will be used to serve students starting with the 2024-25 school year. 

“This is a vital first step to reducing our carbon footprint and improving air quality in and around our schools and communities,” said State Superintendent Dr. Christina Grant. “The new electric buses will support our efforts to operate a cleaner and greener bus fleet in our community. We are grateful to Phoenix Motorcars and Motiv Power Systems, Inc. for their partnership in helping to better protect the health of children across the District."   

In October 2022, OSSE was awarded $7.6 million through the Clean School Bus Rebate Program, offered by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to replace existing school buses with zero- and low-emission models.  

Last year, the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) announced the release of a broad-ranging Transportation Electrification Roadmap (TER) to help the District transition its local transportation modes to zero-emission vehicles. This includes 100 percent replacement of DC’s school buses with electric buses at the end of their useful life.   

This acquisition builds on the District’s ongoing efforts to become carbon-neutral and climate resilient by 2050, as electric school buses are drastically more efficient than fossil fueled alternatives. Additionally, electric school buses cost 75 percent to maintain and 80 percent less to power than traditional buses. 

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education Division of Student Transportation (OSSE DOT) provides safe, reliable, and efficient transportation services for eligible students with disabilities from the District of Columbia. To learn more, please visit the OSSE website.